[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] MARIA: TODAY I AM HERE IN THE VILLAGE OF FODDNES WHERE I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU ON THIS CULINARY JOURNEY.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE IS CUISINE COOKED BY VOLCANIC STEAM.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SHOW YOU THIS AND EXPERIENCE IT WITH YOU.

♪ MARIA: OUR DAY BEGINS WITH LANDING ON THE ISLAND OF SAN MIGUEL IN THE AZORES AND BEGINNING WITH A SCENIC DRIVE.

WE REACH THE VILLAGE WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE ISLAND.

IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST CIVIL PARISHES ON THE ISLAND AND IS IN A MINISTER POLITY.

IT IS LOCATED INSIDE AN ANCIENT VOLCANIC CRATER.

THE EVIDENCE IS EVERYWHERE.

OUR STAY BEGINS AT A HOTEL IN THE HEART OF THE ISLAND.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

MARIA: MY TRIP WENT WELL, I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SPEND TIME HERE.

>> WELCOME TO YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME.

MAY I SHOW YOU THE HOTEL?

THE HOTEL WAS BUILT IN 1935 BY A MAN WHO BELIEVED THIS WAS A GEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A VALLEY.

HE BUILT THIS HOTEL AND IN 1937, HE BOUGHT THE PARK WHICH IS A GARDEN.

HERE, WE HAVE THE MURAL, A DEDICATION TO ALL THE IMMIGRANTS WHO LEFT THE AZORES AND WENT TO THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND HE WANTED TO DEDICATE THIS TO THEM.

THERE WE ARE.

THE LITTLE ISLAND RIGHT THERE.

MARIA: THAT IS IT.

THE VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF MONACO TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THIS HOTEL SPECIAL, THE RICH HISTORY OF THIS HOTEL AND AREA ARE HERE.

>> THIS IS OUR UNIQUE AND EXCLUSIVE GARDEN THAT HELPS US EACH DAY CREATE UNIQUE MOMENTS FOR OUR GUESTS.

OUR TEAM STRIVES EVERY DAY TO EXCEED OUR GUESTS'EXPECTATIONS.

MARIA: I AM BLOWN AWAY.

TO GO ALONG WITH THE FOUR STAR IS THEIR TOP RATED RESTAURANT, THE GARDEN STAR RESTAURANT, RUN BY THE CHEF.

I'M EXCITED HE IS GOING TO SHOW ME HOW TO MAKE THE HOUSE SPECIALTY.

[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> HE IS SAYING HE HAS MADE A DESERT FOR ME.

I LOVE IT.

THE HOTEL SPECIALTY IS A BOILED DINNER.

NOT JUST ANY DINNER.

THIS DINNER IS COOKED BY BEING BURIED IN THE GROUND IN VOLCANIC HEAT AND STEAM AND COOKS TO PERFECTION.

>> [ SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] WHAT HE IS DOING IS LAYERING THE MEAT AT THE BOTTOM BECAUSE THE STEAM IS GOING TO COME UP FROM THE PAN.

THE HEAT IS GOING TO RISE SO THE ONES THAT ARE DENSE GET AT THE BOTTOM.

THIS IS THE LAYERING PROCESS.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: PIG'S FEET.

OK. AFTER THE MEATS, WE'RE GOING TO ADD DELICATE STUFF, CABBAGE.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THAT I SPORK BELLY AND SAUSAGES.

-- IS PORK BELLY AND SAUSAGES.

HE IS TEACHING ESSAY TRICK.

HE TAKES -- A TRICK.

HE TAKES THE KALE LEAVES AND PUTS IT WITH THE SAUSAGE SO WHEN THEY COOKS, IT WILL NOT DIRTY UP YOUR BOILED DINNER.

♪ MARIA: FROM HERE, IT IS EIGHT HOURS OF COOKING IN STEAM.

IT IS A PRESSURE COOKER.

EVERYTHING, AS YOU SAW, THE ONLY SEASONING WAS SALT.

I CANNOT WAIT.

[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: > [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: OK. WE ARE GOING TO THE VOLCANO.

NOW THAT THE CUISINE IS READY TO COOK, THE CHEF AND I TAKE A DRIVE TO THE COLLECTION OF THERMAL POOLS OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE NESTLED ALONG THE BANKS.

IT IS HERE THAT RESTAURANTS IN THE AREA RESERVE SPOTS TO BURY THEIR CUISINE EVERY DAY.

FOR ME TO HAVE A CHANCE TO PREPARE THIS MEAL IS UNIQUE.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] ♪ MARIA: AWESOME.

♪ MARIA: THERE YOU HAVE IT, NATURE'S OWN PRESSURE COOKER.

AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF THE YEAR, ALSO, PRESETS THE TIME IT YOU WOULD HAVE OF COOKING IN THERE.

IN THE WINTERTIME, OUR ISLAND BECOMES COLDER SO YOU WILL NEED TIME FOR THAT HEAT.

IN THE SUMMERTIME, YOU WOULD NEVER COOK IT EIGHT HOURS.

TODAY IS CHILLY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT EIGHT HOURS TODAY.

WITH A BURIED AND COOKING, -- WITH IT THERE EATING COOKING, I HAVE THE DAY TO EXPLORE THE VILLAGE AND AREAS.

I HAD A CHANCE TO MEET UP WITH SOMEONE WHO AGREED TO TAKE ME AROUND.

I AM HAPPY WE ARE HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE GOT THIS TIME TO EXPLORE THIS PARISH.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE ME?

>> I WILL SHOW YOU THE HIGHLIGHTS.

MARIA: I LIKE THAT.

>> THERE WAS A PORTUGUESE WRITER AND HE WROTE A SPECIAL BANK ABOUT THE AZORES -- BOOK ABOUT THE AZORES AND HE SAID, I AM SMASHED.

MARIA: JUST LOOKING AT THAT, YOU HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN.

>> NATURE IS NOT THE SAME, IT IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

MARIA: OUR WALK ME ENTER THROUGH THE STREETS ALONG BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC GARDENS.

-- ME UEANDERS THROUGH THE STREETS ALONG BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC GARDENS.

THIS AREA HAS HAD VOLCANIC ACTIVITY.

>> THIS IS A SPOT WE COME TO RELAX AND PUT OUR FEET IN THE WATER.

THIS IS THE BEST WATER WE HAVE TO CURE ATHLETES FOOT.

MARIA: IF YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM, THIS IS THE PLACE.

WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE HEART OF THE VILLAGE, THE CENTER.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT IS AN ACTIVE VOLCANO.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT FIELDS.

THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

ONE OF THEM IS NEAR THE LAKE.

IT IS WHERE WE LIVE, A VOLCANIC CRATER.

MARIA: WE ARE IN THE CENTER OF THE CRATER NOW.

>> WE ARE IN THE MOUTH OF THE VOLCANO.

OFFICIALLY, THE HOTTEST WATER OF PORTUGAL IS IN FRONT OF US.

MARIA: REALLY?

>> 97, 98 DEGREES.

MARIA: I KNEW THIS WOULD NOT BE COMPLETE UNLESS I SAMPLED THE THERMAL WATER MYSELF.

IT IS A MAGICAL ISLAND WHERE THESE ARE READY FOR US.

>> THANK YOU.

IT IS CALLED.

-- COLD.

MARIA: I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I SHOULD DRINK.

WE WILL SEE.

IT IS NOT BITTER.

>> IT ISN'T.

MARIA: THIS IS GOING TO MAKE ME LOOK YOUNG.

I AM DRINKING THE WHOLE THING.

THIS IS GREAT, FANTASTIC.

♪ MARIA: THE THERMAL WATERS DID NOT MAKE ME YOUNGER BUT IT DID MAKE ME READY FOR THE NEXT STOP, THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, A GARDEN PARADISE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.

THE GARDEN IS OVER 200 YEARS OLD AND COVERS OVER 30 ACRES OF GARDEN PARADISE.

IT IS NESTLED NEAR THE CENTER.

IT IS HOME TO COUNTLESS TREES, PLANTS, AND SHRUBS.

ITS MAIN ATTRACTION IS THE THERMAL POOL NEAR THE ENTRANCE.

>> WE ARE FORTUNATE WE HAVE NOT ONLY BEAUTIFUL PLANTS BUT LOTS OF THERMAL WATER.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE WATER IS ORANGE BECAUSE OF IRON IN CONTACT WITH THE OXYGEN.

MARIA: THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS I NEED TO MAKE SURE I SEE AND THERE IS H FREE THAT -- A TREE THAT I JUST LOVE IT.

THERE IT IS.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE THAT ONE.

>> IT IS A DIFFERENT SPECIES.

MARIA: I REALLY LOVE THOSE.

♪ MARIA: YOUR DAD IS IMPORTANT IN THIS, ISN'T HE?

MARIA: IS HE LETTING YOU COME IN AND MAKE A LITTLE CHANGE?

>> A LITTLE.

MARIA: DAD IS LETTING YOU DO A LITTLE.

♪ >> MY FATHER, HE HAS A BIG AREA HERE, HE DECIDED TO CREATE THE RECTANGLE.

MARIA: YOU CHANGED IT -- >> I DESTROYED HIS WORK.

MARIA: WE ENHANCED IT.

>> IT IS A GIRL THING, FLOWERS.

IT IS OBVIOUS.

MARIA: TO SAY SHE KNOWS HER STUFF WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

WE PROCEEDED ON A WHIRLWIND TOUR AND I GOT MY EDUCATION IN BOTANY IN A SINGLE DAY.

>> SEE THE SHAPE?

THAT IS THE BRAZILIAN VERMILL ION.

WE HAVE THE TAROT PLANTS.

YOU CAN SEE THEM GROWING UNDER THE TREES.

THERE IS VEGETATION, THEY ARE HAPPY.

YOU ARE LISTENING TO THE PROPS.

MARIA: THE BULLFROGS.

>> MY FAVORITE TREE IS SPECIAL.

IT IS BEAUTIFUL.

BY LATE SPRING, THEY LOOK LIKE TWO LIPS.

IT IS A -- TULIPS.

IT IS A EUCALYPTUS.

MARIA: FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER BEEN HERE TO THE AZORES, THEY HAVE NO IDEA.

>> YOU ALMOST CANNOT FIND THE ISLAND ON THE MAP.

WHERE ARE THE AZORES?

THEN, YOU COME HERE AND YOU FIND A GARDEN LIKE THIS.

I WORK HERE.

I THINK IT IS SPECIAL, A SURPRISE WHEN YOU ARRIVE AND FIND THESE.

MARIA: I COULD HAVE SPENT THE WHOLE DAY WANDERING AROUND AND SHE WOULD HAVE SHOWN ME THE WHOLE 30 ACRES.

I HAD ONE MORE THING TO DO, PREPARING A SPECIAL DESSERT WITH THE CHEF.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: OK. [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] ♪ MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THAT IS THICKENING BEFORE MY EYES.

LOOK AT THAT.

THIS WOULD TAKE HEAVY BEATING TO MAKE A MOUSSE.

IT IS GETTING THICKER.

EACH FRUIT HAS A DIFFERENT ACIDITY SO WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU WILL KNOW DOING IT LITTLE BY LITTLE THE THICKNESS YOU WANT.

BY DOING IT LITTLE BY LITTLE, YOU WILL GET THAT CONSISTENCY YOU WANT AND YOU MIGHT NOT USE ALL OF THE JUICES.

IT IS DONE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE DID NOT USE ALL OF IT.

IT GAVE THE RIGHT CONSISTENCY.

I GET TO TASTE?

NOT YET.

THAT IS WHEN YOU KNOW IT IS DONE.

I GET TO TASTE.

OH MY GOD.

THAT IS AMAZING.

IT WAS LIGHT.

>> THAT IS THE PIECE TO RESIST ANCE.

MARIA: I CAN'T WAIT.

♪ MARIA: AS DESSERT COOLS, THE CHEF AND I HEAD BACK TO RETRIEVE THE CUISINE.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] I HAVE TO DO THIS, THEY ARE TELLING ME I NEED TO DO THIS.

IF I WANT SUPPER, I HAVE TO DO THIS.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] THANK YOU.

I HAVE TO WORK FOR MY DINNER.

OK.

YES.

♪ MARIA: ONCE IN THE KITCHEN, THE COVER IS REMOVED AND WE SEE THE EFFECTS.

EVERYTHING IS PRESSED TO THE BOTTOM, ALL OF THE JUICES MELT TOGETHER.

WE ARE LEFT WITH A DISPLAY OF MEATS, VEGETABLES AND STARCHES.

THE MEATS ARE SO TENDER THEY START FALLING APART WHEN REMOVED.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] HE MADE CROQUETTES WITH THE DINNER, THE WHOLE DINNER IS IN THESE.

[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] >> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: LITTLE BY LITTLE, YOU TASTE THE FLAVORS.

YOU SEE THE MEAT, THE POTATO, THE CABBAGE.

IN THIS TINY THING IS A BURST OF FLAVOR.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THAT IS RIGHT.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: IT CAN BE REFINED.

WE ARE HAVING REFINED CUISINE.

THE SECOND SURPRISE, THEY IS A FORK AND SPOON.

HOW WOULD YOU EAT SOMETHING?

IT IS NOT A FORK AND KNIFE.

WHAT IS IT.

I CANNOT WAIT.

♪ MARIA: THIS GOES OVER THIS.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: YES.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THIS IS ALSO THE BOILED DINNER.

YOU HAVE GOT THE BROTH, THAT IS WHAT COMES OUT OF THE DINNER.

OH MY.

IT SMELLS AMAZING.

WOW.

WOW.

WOW.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: ANOTHER WAY -- YES.

IN SAID OF SHOWING OFF THE DIFFERENT PIECES -- INSTEAD OF SHOWING OFF THE DIFFERENT PIECES, BY HAVING A MORE REFINED BRINGS IT TO A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THIS IS THE SURPRISE.

THE SURPRISE OF BEING SERVED A SPOON AND FORK.

LOVE IT.

FOLLOWING HIS SPECIAL TWIST, IT WAS TIME TO SAMPLE THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOR AND SAMPLE TRADITIONAL CUISINE.

IT IS SUCH A COMFORT FOOD.

KNOWING I HAD A PART IN MAKING IT MADE IT MORE SPECIAL.

IT IS A MUST TRY OR EVERYONE VISITING.

-- FOR EVERYONE VISITING.

ALL MY HARD WORK, THE WORK OF PUTTING IT TOGETHER, OF BRINGING IT TO THE PLACE WE BURIED IT AND WE WENT TO PICK IT UP, THIS IS IT.

YOU ARE GOING TO ENJOY THIS.

♪ MARIA: VERY NICE.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THIS IS THE AZORES IN A PLAY.

-- IN A PLATE.

THIS IS WONDERFUL, THANK YOU.

♪ MARIA: WOW.

OUR DESSERT.

THIS IS WONDERFUL.

WHILE.

-- WOW.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: WE HAVE COME TO THE END OF OUR DINNER.

THANK YOU.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.

[SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: THANK YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

I GOT TO COOK WITH YOU AND I GOT TO SEE A BOILED DINNER, COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN TO THREE DIFFERENT DELICIOUS DISHES THAT WOULD STAND ON THEIR OWN.

NOW, WE GET TO ENJOY WHAT WE MADE.

OK?

>> OK. MARIA: MMMMM.

THAT IS SO GOOD.

AND IT IS MOUSSE.

THAT IS SO GOOD.

>> [SPEAKING PORTUGUESE] MARIA: A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WAY.

IT IS MOUSSE.

♪ [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]